Most Medical Insurances Cover Dental Work as a Result of Trauma

Sadly, for many individuals, medical insurance doesn’t always cover necessary dental work that repairs teeth and keeps your mouth healthy for years to come. However, an injury is a different situation. Christopher R. Pottorff, DMD, of Advanced Dental & Implant Care in Algonquin, treats patients who require dental work as a result of trauma. In most cases, medical insurance covers these procedures.

Medically necessary dental work makes a difference

When Dr. Pottorff prescribes a dental treatment or procedure to restore your teeth or to help you maintain good oral health, his recommendation is dentally necessary. However, to foot the bill, your insurance company typically recognizes only “medically necessary” procedures. So, when most insurance providers deem dental work as medically necessary to repair your teeth and mouth after a traumatic injury, they pay for services.

The definition of a medically necessary dental procedure may vary somewhat from one insurance company to another, but typically, the need for medical, dental care includes:

Non-biting accidents, such as a knocked-out tooth

Certain diseases that affect your oral health

Tooth extractions as a result of disease

Dr. Pottorff is an expert at assessing your condition so he can prescribe the most effective medical and dental treatments.

What types of dental care does medical insurance cover?

Medical, dental care typically includes diagnostic procedures after trauma to determine the cause or location of your pain. Digital X-rays and other medical imaging are an essential part of your treatment plan after injury. In fact, these X-rays allow Dr. Pottorff to accurately identify the problem and the type of procedure you need to correct it. At times, after a traumatic dental injury, as in a knocked-out tooth, there are no apparent signs of damage to the surrounding teeth except those that are visible on an X-ray.

Medically necessary dental work includes nonsurgical and surgical procedures, too. Thus, when dental work is due to a traumatic event or illness, it is considered a medically necessary treatment. Moreso, insurers will recognize that this treatment is needed to improve your overall health and well-being. For example, a dental emergency may require immediate treatment for inflammation or infections in your teeth or mouth, or a root canal to save an injured tooth.

Dental work after trauma

After a traumatic dental injury, you most likely need dental care to restore your mouth to its original, pre-injury condition. In these situations, most medical insurance providers cover all dental procedures and treatments that restore the appearance and function of your teeth. Services include:

Any restorative treatment care

Surgery

Dental implants

Root canals

Bone grafting

Dental procedures that save natural teeth

Crowns

Whether you suffer knocked out teeth as a result of a car accident, sports-related injury, or another traumatic event, we have the right treatment for you. For example, dental implants, crowns, bridges, and other dental work restore your smile to optimal health, both functionally and aesthetically.

Common dental injuries include:

Chipped or fractured teeth

Dislodged teeth

Knocked-out teeth

Root fractures

Dr. Pottorff makes every effort to save your natural teeth by repairing or reattaching broken pieces, or by replacing a missing part of the tooth with a tooth-colored filling. He may also recommend a crown to put over the broken tooth, so it matches the surrounding uninjured teeth.

If you dislodge a tooth, Dr. Pottorff can often reposition it back to its correct location in the socket. However, repositioning sometimes requires a root canal as well. If the tooth is not saveable, Dr. Pottorff is an expert in placing dental implants.

Act fast after a traumatic dental injury!

Time is of the essence after a traumatic dental injury, especially if you’ve had a tooth knocked out. As a matter of fact, if you can receive treatment within 30 minutes of the damage, Dr. Pottorff may be able to save your tooth. Also, he will examine you for any other facial and dental injuries so he can recommend the best treatment plan.

Ideally, after any traumatic dental injury, the sooner you seek treatment, the more options you have for saving and restoring natural teeth. Dr. Pottorff and his highly skilled team, work with you and your insurance company to bill all treatments that are medically necessary to revive your smile.

If you or a family member suffer an accident and your teeth are injured, don’t hesitate to contact Advanced Dental & Implant Care. If the injuries are severe and require immediate medical care, go to the nearest emergency room. Otherwise, call for an appointment as soon as possible.

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“We believe providing our patients with a better experience is the best way to ensure they have healthy, attractive smiles that last a lifetime. We go above and beyond to make sure our patients are comfortable, even at the most basic level. We understand going to the dentist can be an uncomfortable experience, but with our office, it doesn’t have to be. So when you visit us, you will see what sets our office apart from other dentists and implant specialists. From routine dental care to perfect natural-looking implants and cosmetic dentistry, we promise you will be impressed. Schedule your visit today!”